The Havant Borough Council Planning Committee met to discuss two planning applications for the erection of two three-bedroom dwellings and a change of use application. The committee refused the application for the change of use from B2 to E retail for a site on Palmers Road, and approved the applications for the erection of two dwellings on land at Emsworth House Close.

Land at Emsworth House Close

The committee considered two applications relating to land at Emsworth House Close for the erection of two three-bedroomed detached houses. Both applications were granted, subject to conditions.

APP/24/00245 - Land south of Furlonge House, Emsworth House Close, Emsworth, PO10 7JR

This application was for the Proposed erection of a detached three-bedroomed house including work to Oak Tree subject to a Tree Preservation Order . This included pruning of the lateral canopy, raising the western and southwestern canopy, and removing dead, damaged, or hanging branches.

The committee heard that the site is within an urban area and the development is supported in principle, making a contribution to the council's housing needs. The council is currently unable to demonstrate a five-year housing supply.

There were 39 objections to the proposal, including a petition with 30 names. Concerns were raised regarding:

• Parking and access for emergency vehicles
• Loss of green space
• Impact on trees

One objector, Martin Black, submitted a deputation stating that the tree was classified as a Category A tree and raised concerns about the impact of the development on the tree's health and viability. He also noted that the author P.G. Wodehouse lived at 6 Record Road for 10 years (1904 – 1914).

The committee was told that the Council's Arboriculturalist had assessed the tree as Category A and that the siting of the proposed dwelling had been altered to address concerns about the impact on the tree. The Arboriculturalist raised no objection to the proposal, and recommended that the development be carried out in accordance with the Arboricultural Impact Appraisal and Preliminary Arboricultural Method Statement.

The committee also heard that the Council's Ecologist had been consulted and that a condition would be required to ensure that the development would proceed in accordance with the ecological avoidance and mitigation measures detailed within the Ecological Impact Assessment.

Hampshire Highways raised no objection to the proposal, subject to conditions.

The committee was satisfied that the proposal would not have an unacceptable impact on parking or access for emergency vehicles.

The application was approved, subject to conditions.

APP/24/00232 - Land north of 6, Emsworth House Close, Emsworth

This application was for the erection of one three-bedroom dwelling.

The committee heard that the site is within an urban area and the development is supported in principle, making a contribution to the council's housing needs. The council is currently unable to demonstrate a five-year housing supply.

There were 35 objections to the proposal, including a petition with 30 names. Concerns were raised regarding:

• Parking and access for emergency vehicles
• Loss of green space
• Impact on trees

The committee was told that the Council's Arboriculturalist had assessed the tree as Category A and that the siting of the proposed dwelling had been altered to address concerns about the impact on the tree. The Arboriculturalist raised no objection to the proposal, and recommended that the development be carried out in accordance with the Arboricultural Impact Appraisal and Preliminary Arboricultural Method Statement.

The committee also heard that the Council's Ecologist had been consulted and that a condition would be required to ensure that the development would proceed in accordance with the ecological avoidance and mitigation measures detailed within the Ecological Impact Assessment.

Hampshire Highways raised no objection to the proposal, subject to conditions.

The committee was satisfied that the proposal would not have an unacceptable impact on parking or access for emergency vehicles.

The application was approved, subject to conditions.

APP/25/00113 - 1 Industrial Estate, Palmers Road, Emsworth, PO10 7DH

The committee considered an application for a change of use from B2¹ to E retail for use as a store selling pet food and products, including associated works for the installation of a double glazed window and door to the front elevation at 1 Industrial Estate, Palmers Road, Emsworth, PO10 7DH. The Development Manager recommended that the application be refused.

The committee heard that there had been 110 letters of support and 19 objections to the proposal.

Mr Parham and Mrs Kaye, representing the objectors, reiterated the issues set out in their written deputation. They confirmed that the premises had been empty since December and that the relationship between residents and tenants had previously been amicable due to the opening hours.

Councillor Rason, as ward councillor, spoke in support of the application, reiterating the issues set out in her written deputation. She confirmed that she had not been in contact with residents as she deemed it inappropriate due to speaking at committee.

Mrs Wotherspoon, the applicant, reiterated the issues set out in her written deputation. She confirmed that they receive 40-45 customers a day, do not currently provide an online service, and that the majority of customers are local, with approximately half visiting with their pets.

The committee was advised that:

• Parking was restricted along Palmers Road
• Changes of use from B1 (now Class E) to B2 in the Palmers Road Industrial Estate have historically been approved with specific tenants, and the landlord aware of the changes to be made. Personal conditions have been put in place to ensure as least disruption as possible. As a result the current lawful use of the application site is Class B2 following the relocation of the former occupier and it requires permission to convert to Class E retail. Light industrial use is permitted within class E but this application is specific to Class E retail.
• Permits on Palmers Road are understood to be controlled by HCC
• Previous hours conditions related to machinery, but for this application it would be applied to the hours of trade only.

The committee discussed the decline in retail across the borough, the appropriateness of the use in this location, and the movements and parking associated with the proposed use. They also discussed whether it would set a precedent for future change of use, potentially resulting in further loss of industrial units, and took into consideration the concerns of the residents over parking.

The committee noted the importance of the applicant's business trying to find a new premises, and were also concerned for loss of employment in the area.

Officers reminded members that at the time of construction the use class could not have been changed from Class B1 to A (retail) – it is only recent legislative changes which enable such a change of use to occur.

The committee refused the application for the following reasons:

• The site lies outside the defined District Centre of Emsworth and it has not been adequately demonstrated through any sequential assessment that the proposed main town centre Class E retail use is appropriate for this edge of centre site. Insufficient evidence has been provided to demonstrate that there are no preferable town centre sites available, contrary to paragraph 91 of the National Planning Policy Framework and policy CS4 of the Havant Borough Local Plan (Core Strategy) 2011 and policy AL3 of the Havant Borough Local Plan (Allocations Plan) 2014.
• The proposed change of use of the site from a Use Class B2 employment site to a Use Class E retail unit would result in the loss of the employment site for which no overriding justification has been provided. No marketing report has been submitted to demonstrate the site is no longer fit for purpose and financially unviable for Use Class B employment purposes as required by policy DM3 of the Havant Borough Local Plan (Core Strategy) 2011. The proposal is also considered contrary to policy W3 of the Emsworth Neighbourhood Plan, adopted 2021, and the National Planning Policy Framework.
• The proposed change of use and associated operational development would introduce a Class E retail unit with shop front into a mixed residential and industrial area which would result in increased footfall and public presence, having an adverse impact on the character of the area, and be out of keeping with local context and the visual appearance of the area, contrary to policy CS16 of the Havant Borough Local Plan (Core Strategy) 2011 and the National Planning Policy Framework.